@404mediaco the de Minimis exception was a loophole for companies like SHEIN and temu that needed to be closed. Like with most things in the trump administration that aren’t blatantly evil, however, instead of devising a revised framework to preserve individual travelers or smaller producers while still blocking dropshippers, they just took a massive sledgehammer with complete reckless abandon.

@404mediaco Many countries (I'm aware of EU, Australia, New Zealand) have laws that require overseas suppliers to collect GST/VAT at time of purchase (for under $1k in Australia). Goods are delivered without brokerage fees. No longer have to go to post office to pay tax and duty. A $2 thing from AliExpress has its 20c GST paid.

Is it arbitrary and changing tariff rates that's stopping something similar in the US?

@404mediaco That and thousands of small business